Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Carbon Disulfide

摘要

A survey of workers exposed to carbon-disulfide (75150) (CS2) at concentrations below the current standard of 20 parts per million (ppm) was conducted. The cohort consisted of 146 male workers at a rayon staple factory (SIC-2823). The comparison group consisted of 233 workers at the same facility having no CS2 exposure. The average ages of the cohort and comparisons were 38.2 and 33.9 years, respectively. Subjects were administered comprehensive medical examinations that included neurological, endocrine, metabolic, reproductive, and cardiovascular evaluations. Industrial hygiene sampling for CS2 was performed. CS2 concentrations ranged from 0.58 to 12.64ppm. Exposed workers showed very little increased morbidity, but exposure dependent increases in pathological changes such as increased frequency of angina and myocardial infarction, systolic and diastolic blood velocity, increased symptoms of muscular weakness, increased low density of lipoproteins, increased fasting blood sugar, increased proportion of abnormal sperm forms, and increased incidence of retinal abnormalities. The authors conclude that the present standard of 20ppm leaves little margin of safety. Additional research on the cardiovascular toxicity of CS2 and review of the current standard are recommended.